Chain-inclosure.



No. 633,534. Patented Sept. I9, |899.

M. G. READ.

CHAIN INCLOSURE.

(Application filed Sept. 2, 189B.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l,

Tus mums Patins co. woruuwo., wsmncron. n. c.

No. 633,534. Patented Sept. I9, |899.

M. G. READ'.

CHAIN INCLOSURE.

Application led Sept. 2, 1898.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

(No Model.)

INVENTOH wim Ess Es ma cams Evans co. worourno.. wAsHmc-Tou, D, c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MAMIE Gr. READ, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF TiVO-THIRDS TO JOHN V. ElSENl-IUTH AND ELLA Y. EISENHUTH, OF 'SAME PLACE.

CHAIN-INCLOSURE.

SPECIFICATION forming part f Letters Patent No. 633,534, dated September 19, 1899.

Application tiled September 2, 1898. Serial No. 690,106. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, MAMIE G. READ, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bicycles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to the construction of `bicycles, and has particular reference to the means for inclosing and coniining the sprocket-chain within the frame proper of the machine, so as to keep the said chain free from dust and dirt and at all times lubricated and from coming in contact with the clothes of the rider, as will be hereinafter described and specifically claimed.

The invention consists in certain details of constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings and now to be fully eX- plained.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of a bicycle constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlargedvertical longitudinal section through the crank-hanger axle and rear sprocketwheel and portion of the frame which incloses the chain and other connecting' parts. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through the crankhanger and the rear axle and hub, the sprockets and chain, and a portion of the frame inclosing the said chain, as well as other connecting parts. Fig.' et is a vertical sectional View through the housing on the rear hub and sprocket wheel showing the eccentric for tightening the chain. Fig. 5 is a plan View ofthe eccentric for tightening the chain. Fig. 6 is a perspective View of the plate or cover which closes the crank-housing, and Fig. 7 is a sectional view through one of the connecting-tubes showing the rawhide or other analogous lining and the tube in elliptical form.

A in the drawings represents the frame of the wheel, which may be of drop or diamond form. The front fork @,the front connectingrods a', and the truss saddle-supports a2 c3 are of ordinary construction.

My improvements relate particularly to the crank-housing B, the rear-axle housing O, and the tubes connectingthe saine, in which the sprocket-chain runs, which constitute a part of the frame. The crank-housing and the rear-axle housing are connected by the tubes D and E, through which the chain F passes, the latter engaging a sprocket-wheel G in the crank-housing and a sprocket-wheel H in the rear-axle housing, as clearly seen in Fig. 2. The crank-housing consists of a circular casting, which surrounds the crankshaft. This housing is secured to the tubes D and E, as at b b2. As clearly shown in Fig. 3, this housing practically incloses the entire crank-axle except at the 'i' ront, at which point it is closed by a cover or plate I, which latter is screwed into the housing and is formed with a boss or projection t', into which is screwed a nut 752 by which the plate or cover I is prevented froin coming oft and the other parts are held in' position. The nut-shaped boss -i may be used for screwing the face-plate I into place Vby applying an ordinary wrench or Spanner to it. Rawhide or rubber packingrings or gaskets b2 [farey preferably interposed between the hub of the sprocket-wheel Gand the inner face of thehousing and cover therefor, and a suitable loose packing, as b4, is inserted between the crank-axle and the housing to form an oil-tight and dust-proof joint. Ball-bearings are provided in the crank-axle hanger, as usual, and the crankaxle extends through the other end of the housing and is held in place by means of a nut in the' ordinary manner.

The crank-housing, as heretofore stated, is made, preferably, lfrom a single piece of material and is constructed with thimble formations lr" to receive the connecting-tubes D and E, through which the chain passes, and with a socket for the reception of the side connecting rod or bar K and with another socket L for the reception of one of the front trussrods. v The rear-axle housing O consists, preferably, of a single casting made substantially in the form shown in Fig. 4 and is supported on the rear hub M and is formed with thimbles ,im m m2 to receive the connecting-tubes D and E and the rear saddle-supporting trussrod c3. The sprocket-wheel H is mounted on the hub and operates in the housing C, and packing-rings or gaskets of leather or other suitable material are interposed between the hub of the sprocket-wheel and the housing, so as to form tight joints and prevent the escape of oil and the entrance of dust, and other loose packing, as m4, may also be employed to further assure against the escape of oil. The housing is closed at front by a perforated cap or plate e, through which the stationary axle passes, and the axle is held in place by means of a nut and washer, as c' c2. Ballbearings are interposed between the axle and the hub in the usual manner, so as to permit a free revolution of the latter, and these are held in place as is common in such constructions.

O represents an eccentric ring through which the hub loosely passes and has a free movement around the inner edge of the housing C and is held from lateral displacement by means of the anges 0 o, which engage the said housing, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The construction and arrangement of the eccentric is also clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

Vhen it is desired to adjust the chain, it is simply necessary to loosen the nuts on the axle, when a Spanner may be applied to the projecting edge of the ecce'ntric ring, so as to turn the same backward or forward, according as it is desired to tighten or loosen the chain. The nuts are then again tightened to hold the parts in their adjusted position.

The tubes D and E, through which the sprocket-chain passes, are preferably lined with rawhide, fiber, or other analogous material, but preferably rawhide soaked with oil, which forms an an'tifriction-surface for the chain and prevents any rattling and permits the chain to move noiselessly through the tubes. The lower tube E is preferably given a slight curve downwardly to accommodate it to the sag of the chain, which is important, as it facilitates the movement of the chain and reduces the amount of friction. If desired, the tubes might be made somewhat elliptical in form, as shown in Fig. 7.

I have described the crank-housing and the rear-hub housing and the connecting-tubes D and E as being made separately; but it is obvious that one whole side-that is, onehalf of the tubes and one-half of the housings-might be made in one piece and the corresponding half may also be made in one piece and the two parts Welded together. An aperture a5 is preferably provided in the rear truss-bar c3, through which oil is entered to lubricate the parts, and as the joints are completelysealed the tubes will be lilled With oil, so that the chain will be practically in oil continuously.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a bicycle,the combination of a stationary rear axle a revoluble hub mounted thereon, a sprocket-wheel on said hub, a housing inclosing the sprocket-wheel and a portion of the hub, an eccentric ring arranged to revolve on the housing and through which the hub and axle pass, a crank-hanger, a sprocket- Wheel mounted thereon, a housing inclosing the hanger and the sprocket-Wheel, tubes connecting the housings and a sprocket-chain which passes through the tubes and housings and is entirely inclosed thereby, the construction being such that the chain can be tightened or loosened, substantially as described.

2. In a bicycle, the combination with a suitable frame, of a front and rear sprocket housing, outer metallic tubes connecting the said housings for inclosing the sprocket-chain of the bicycle, inner tubes of rawhide mounted in the said metallic tubes, said rawhide tubes being adapted to absorb oil and hold it so as to form an antifriction-surface in case the chain should come in contact therewith and front plates for closing the sprocket-housings to completely exclude dust from the sprocketchain, substantially as described.

3. In a bicycle, the combination With asuitable frame,of sprocket-housings formed thereon inclosing the front and rear sprocketwheels, tubes connecting the two housings so as to completely inclose the sprocket-chain, an eccentric ring having an annular peripheral groove adapted t0 engage the edges of an opening formed in the Wall of the rear crank-housing, said eccentric ring having an eccentrically-arranged opening for receiving the hub of the wheel, the construction being such that when the nuts upon the axle of the rear Wheel are loosened the eccentric ring may be turned to move the hub forward or backward so as to tighten or loosen the sprocket-chain, substantially as described.

4. In a bicycle, the combination of an integral crank-hanger and a front sprockethousing, a rear-sprocket housing chain-inclosing tubes connecting the front and rear sprocket housings, face-plates for closing the said housings, the plate upon the front housing being provided with a nut-shaped boss or projection and its periphery being provided with screw-threads adapted to engage corresponding threads in the sprocket-housing, the construction being such that awrench or Spanner maybe applied to the nutshaped boss for turning 'the front plate into or out of engagement with the sprocket-housings, substantially as described.

IOO

IIO

5. In a bicycle, the combination with a suitform an antifriction-surface, substantially as Io able frame, of a front and rear sprocket housdescribed. ing, outer metallic tubes connecting the said In testimony whereof I hereunto afIX my housings for inclosng the sprocket-chain of signature in presence of two Witnesses. 5 the bicycle, said tubes being oval in cross- J section and of the same size throughout, in- MAMIAE G' READ' ner tubes of rawhide mounted in the said W'itnesses: metallic tubes, said rawhide tubes being JOHN W. EISENHUTH, adapted To absorb the oil and hold it so as to O. M. SHOMANS. 

